to energize

USAGE SUMMARY

"to energize" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to stimulating or invigorating someone or something. Example: "The speaker aimed to energize the audience with her passionate presentation." Alternative expressions include "to invigorate," "to stimulate," and "to enliven."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The rare outburst seemed to energize Nadal.

The New York Times - Sports

We want to energize that base".

The New York Times

Certainly, business seemed to energize them.

The Guardian - Opinion

I needed to energize it somehow … I needed players!

The New York Times

"It's intended to energize and push us forward".

The New York Times

It was a conscious decision to energize the Democrats.

The New Yorker

I want somebody who's going to energize the party.

The New York Times

Obama wouldn't be doing this to energize his gay supporters.

The New Yorker

It still carries the power to energize your prayer life".

The New York Times - Magazine

No one toy emerged to energize the tot set.

The New York Times

"I wanted to do something to energize the team.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In technical contexts, use this phrase to describe the act of applying electrical current to a circuit or device

Common error

Avoid using "enervate" as a synonym for "to energize". Despite their similar sounds, "enervate" actually means to sap energy or weaken, which is the exact opposite of what you intend when you want to describe someone being invigorated.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to energize" functions as an infinitive verb phrase. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it frequently acts as a complement to other verbs (e.g., "seemed to energize") or as an adverbial of purpose (e.g., "intended to energize"). Its flexibility allows it to govern both animate objects (people, teams) and inanimate objects (circuits, markets).

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to energize" is a versatile and highly effective verb phrase used to describe the act of invigorating a system or a group. Whether you are writing about politics, sports or electrical engineering, this phrase carries a positive connotation of action and vitality. Ludwig data confirms that it is most frequently used in News & Media to describe motivating a base or a team. One important takeaway from the Ludwig AI analysis is to distinguish it from the technical spelling "energise" used in British English and to never confuse it with its antonym "enervate". When you want to convey a sense of renewed strength and purpose, "to energize" remains a top-tier choice for clear and impactful writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to invigorate

Focuses more on restoring health, physical strength or vitality

to galvanize

Suggests a sudden shock that pushes a group into immediate action

to revitalize

Implies giving new life or fresh energy to something that has become stagnant

to stimulate

A more clinical or physiological term for encouraging activity or growth

to mobilize

Used specifically when organizing people or resources for a particular purpose

to power up

More literal and informal, typically used for machinery or electronics

to inspire

Emphasizes the mental or emotional spark rather than just the physical energy

to activate

Suggests triggering a process or turning a system from off to on

to boost

A shorter, more colloquial term for increasing power, morale or performance

to reanimate

Much stronger, suggesting bringing something back from a state of total inactivity

FAQs

How do I use "to energize" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe motivation or literal power. For example, "The coach gave a speech "to energize the players" before the game" or "The technician had "to energize the circuit" to test the connection".

What can I say instead of "to energize" in a business report?

In professional settings, you might prefer more specific verbs like "to revitalize", "to stimulate" or "to optimize" depending on the context of the growth or energy being discussed.

Is it "to energize" or "to energise"?

Both are correct, but they follow different regional conventions. "to energize" is the standard American English spelling, while "to energise" is the preferred British English spelling.

What is the difference between "to energize" and "to galvanize"?

While both mean to stir into action, "to galvanize" often implies a more sudden, shocking or urgent motivation compared to the broader sense of providing vigor found in "to energize".